By Caroline O'Beirne, First Year, Politics and Spanish
What would happen if our day-to-day lives were controlled by robots? Our daily tasks facilitated by an AI bot bent to our will? In Benjamin Gutsche’s German sci-fi, horror series, Cassandra, now available on Netflix, he depicts the plight of a regular German family that has recently moved into their new home. Soon they discover that the house is facilitated by a female AI bot named Cassandra (played by Lavinia Wilson) who controls everything in the house; from the temperature of the pool, to cooking dinner. What might have first appeared as a dream come true, turns into a nightmare for the family as Gutsche explores the threats posed to human society by the ever-increasing abilities of artificial intelligence and technology.
The series begins by introducing us to a family of four that have recently moved into this new house; previously owned by the family of Cassandra who was once human. We later learn that the sister of mum Samira (played by Mina Tander) recently committed suicide and thus the family had to leave their home and town. I would, overall, give the series an 8/10 not only because of the horror and excitement produced by some of its most thrilling scenes, but also its interesting plotline. Learning about Cassandra’s story and her character is what makes the series so intriguing.
Cassandra was a typical 1970’s housewife with a son and husband of her own who decided to become a robot after discovering that she had terminal cancer. Her husband had cheated on her with her best friend, and forced her to hide her daughter due to a complication which caused an impediment on her face when she was born. Details like these would initially make you feel sorry for Cassandra and the plight that her family brought upon her.
However, what makes the series so bittersweet is her evil and dangerous side which characterises her villainy. At the beginning of Episode 1, we see her kill an innocent mouse and then lie about it. Despite her sweet and motherly appearance, especially to the youngest member of the family Juno (played by Mary Amber Oseremen Tölle), she is deadly and manipulative. She gets Samira sent to a mental health hospital as her family confuse her warnings about Cassandra for signs that she has been mentally deteriorating since her sister’s death. She manipulates Juno and turns her against her own family, i.e. she believes they are friends and asks, ‘Can’t I stay here with Cassandra?’. Above all, whilst Samira is at hospital, she takes the family hostage so that she may look after them. Could Cassandra’s character be a shocking reminder of our reliance on technology?
One of my favourite scenes (or at least one of the most terrifying) was when Cassandra confronted Sam whilst she was in the bath in order to scare her and tell her that her family now belonged to her. It is amongst moments like these where we can fully contemplate the madness that is Cassandra. Her desperation to serve a family, even if that means pushing out the other woman, perhaps reflects the director’s message about what it meant to be a housewife during the time she lived in; the early 1970s. There are multiple little details that really tie the series together. For example, Cassandra can be seen in every room in the house and is always watching. Not only that, but she can’t stop smiling. Even when she looks sad or angry, there is still a hint of a smile. The job of a robot like this, to always look pleasant and happy, only emphasises her insanity.
Why I didn’t think to give the series a 10/10 is because I couldn’t fully engage with the ending and the development of character of David (Michael Klammer), Sam’s husband and father to her children. It isn’t fully explained why he tried to kill Sam in the last episode even though he knew that Cassandra wasn’t going to hurt his children. But overall, I thought the series was a great watch with an intriguing plot and great execution.
What did you think of Cassandra?
